Sometimes it is good to start the weekend with a laugh
A GRIP ON SPORTS
It's Saturday. I'm sure you have a lot to do. I know I do. So let's get right after it. Read on.
• I do have a bone to pick with you folks. Read these Los Angeles Times letters to the editor concerning the Super Bowl. You can just read the first page if you like. I'll wait. Good, you done? Now here's my problem. How come you guys didn't write comments this funny about the Super Bowl? Heck, why didn't I? An interview with General Custer? Inspired. Next time the Seahawks destroy someone in the Super Bowl, this is the standard I expect you to meet. OK, me too.
• I would have added the next time the Mariners win the World Series but that hasn't happened yet. And I didn't want you to spit your coffee all over your electronic device. That's also why I avoided any mention of Washington State or Idaho football as well. OK, that's not fair. The Cougars did go to a bowl game last season, so a corner seems to have been turned, but if I would have written "the next time the Cougs undress someone in the Rose Bowl game," wouldn't that have brought some guffaws? After all, it hasn't happened yet either, unless you were at the 1916 game and thought the 14-0 spanking of Brown was a rout. I can't vouch for it. I was busy that day, cleaning out our stable and missed it.
• One last thing. Today is a big day in Eastern Washington University sports history. If the basketball team can find a way to win in Missoula – not an easy task under the best of circumstances – then Eastern will have done something it has never done: win six football and basketball games against the Montana schools in a school year. The football team did its part, sweeping in the fall. The basketball team, with a much tougher task, has done three-quarters of its part, winning against both Montana schools at home earlier this season and winning Thursday night in Bozeman. The five wins are already a high water mark for EWU, so history has been written. But a season sweep. Six tough wins. Now that would be something.
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• WSU: The Cougars get back on the basketball court tonight in Utah and Jacob Thorpe has an advance. We also found a couple of advances in the Utah papers. ... Jacob broke the news yesterday on the blog that backup quarterback Austin Apodaca – and the favorite of many of our post-game call-in show listeners – is going to transfer. Jacob has more in this story. ... The Cougar women have never defeated Stanford. They had a golden opportunity last night in Pullman but couldn't get over the hurdle that is Chiney Ogwumike. ... Jacob also has a morning post with links. ... It's Saturday, so we pass along the mailbag from ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog. It's what we do. It's our thing. Has been for years. ... Jim Allen has a feature on Washington State's newest women's soccer coach, Steve Nugent (pictured).
• Gonzaga: The Bulldogs step out of conference today with a game at Memphis. It's a homecoming for Drew Barham, who grew up in the area, started at Memphis, then transferred to GU. Jim Meehan has more in this advance. ... Bud Withers covers the same ground in this feature. ... USF and BYU meet tonight in Provo with the Cougars holding a grudge over last year's game in Utah. ... San Diego host a reeling Santa Clara team tonight.
• EWU: Jim Allen has an advance of tonight's game and includes more thoughts on the possible season sweep. ... The Big Sky standings are bunched up in the middle.
• Whitworth: The Pirates were on the road but still found a way to win, their 11th consecutive win over Puget Sound.
• Chiefs: Let's just face it. Seattle has Spokane's number in junior hockey this season. ... Portland seems to have everyone's number, defeating Tri-City last night.
• Preps: Greg Lee spent Friday evening in Coeur d'Alene as the Viking girls handled Post Falls with a big second half. He has the story and Colin Mulvany has the photographs. ... Wrestling is in the postseason and we have this roundup. ... There was more prep basketball last night but I was unable to rundown the roundups on-line. Sorry.
• Seahawks: Other than those letters – pick up your game people – there is little, except for this John McGrath column on Seattle hosting a Super Bowl. There doesn't seem to be much of a chance considering the infrastructure the NFL demands.
• Mariners: The troubles with the law for former Mariner Carlos Peguero's wife have moved forward.
• Sounders: Clint Dempsey is happy with his time overseas, even if it is tough.
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• Have a great weekend. I intend to. But before I go I wanted to pass along this story from Monterey, Calif., home of the AT&T Pro-Am this week. Clint Eastwood really is an action hero. Until later ...
